Artificial filament, yarn, or thread



Marsh 17, 1936. w TAYLOR 2,034,0G

ARTIFICIAL FILAMENT, YARN OR THREAD Filed Aug. 19, 1930 ATTORNEYS UNITED sTAT s PATENT OF'FlCE ARTIFICIAL FILAMIENT, YARN, OR THREAD William Ivan Taylor,

Spondon, near Derby, England, assignor to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application August 19, 1930, Serial No. 476,318 In Great Britain September 5, 1929 Claims.

This invention relates to artificial filaments,

yarns, ferred to as thereof.

threads, ribbons, or straw (hereafter refilaments) and to the production According to the invention, there is applied to artificial filaments while the substance of the filaments is in a sticky condition, metallic or other particles or powders, or other materials such as filaments or stances adhering to the fibres, the applied subfilaments and producing any desired ornamental or other effect. Thus, bronzed, silvered or other coloured metallic effects may be obtained by the use of bronze, aluminium, or other suitable powder;

coloured, luminous,

sulphide, or calcium phosphorescent, tinctive powders, such as or other disbarium sulphide, zinc sulphide, may be used.

dull or matt effect may be imparted to the filaments, such materials comprising inorganic substances, such as barium sulphate, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, or

mixtures thereof, and

organic substances, such as the condensation products of urea or thiourea with benzidine, e. g. a-dinaphthol urea, oc-

dinaphthol thio-urea, benzoyl-benzidine. ganic and inorganic di-acetyl-benzidine or di- Mixtures of any of the ordulling agents above referred to may be used as desired. Further, by

the use of short fibres or filaments of natural or artificial material effects ranging from an occasional hairiness to a be obtained.

Numerous advantages causing the adhesion chenille-like material may may be obtained by of filaments or fibres to the sticky artificial filaments. Thus, threads may be produced which resemble spun threads in appearance by reason of the protrusionfro'm their surface of the filaments or fibres applied. An

artificial roughness of any amount of imparted to the filaments, which in enabling yarns consisting of treated according to the inpending on the applied, may be is of advantage artificial filaments desired extent, deadditional material vention to withstand laddering whenmade into knitted fabrics and articles.

The effect materials applied to the filaments may also have different that the filaments, so

dyeing properties from differential or cross-dyed effects may be produced by means of dyes having difierent affinities for filaments and the ample, filaments or the basic material of the applied material. For exfibres of viscose or other reconstituted cellulose silk or of cotton may be applied to filaments of cellulose acetate and vice versa, and the produc t may then be dyed so as to colour either of the materials, leaving the other uncoloured, or both of the materials, but in different colours.

- The process according to the invention may be carried out continuously with the production of artificial filaments and while the filaments are still in a sticky, incompletely-set condition, whether the production is by the dry or evaporative method or by the wet or coagulation method, and may be applied to filaments having a base of cellulose acetate or other derivative of cellulose or having a cellulosic base, such as viscose or cuprammonium artificial silk. For example, the substances may be applied to filaments of cellulose acetate or other derivatives of cellulose during their formation by the dry-spinning processes described in U. S. Patents Nos. 1,602,125 and 1,731,317, or by the wet-spinning processes described in U. S. applications S. Nos. 402,785 filed 26th October, 1929, 418,414 filed 3rd January, 1930 and 437,423 filed20th March, 1930. In the case of dry-spinning the substances are applied to the filaments before the evaporation of the solvent, employed in the spinning solution has proceeded sufiiciently far for the filaments to have lost the stickiness obtaining during'the early stages of their formation. In wet spinning, the stickiness of the filaments on their emergence from the coagulating bath is suflicient to permit the adhesion of the applied substances.

The process may also be carried out on the artificial filaments either during their production or subsequently thereto by applying a substance having a solvent or softening action on the substance of the filaments in order to mm der the filaments sufficiently sticky-or tacky to procure the adhesion of the substances to be ap plied. Thus, in the case of the treatment of filaments of cellulose acetate or other organic derivatives of cellulose, there may be used solvents or softeners such as, for example, acetone (commercially pure, or mixed with water), triacetin, ethyl lactate, and diacetone alcohol, and mixtures of diacetone alcohol with water or alcohol, with viscose or cuprammonium filaments, Schweitzers reagents; and with nitro-cellulose filaments, alcohol-ether mixtures, amyl acetate, and acetone. (1

Any suitable means may be employed for the application of the solvent or softene for example, the filaments may be passed over rods, rollers, wicks, or other devices supplied with the solvent or softenen, the amount j of solvent or softener or its concentration being such as to 5 bring the filaments to stickiness.

It may be desirable to maintain the filaments apart while they are sticky, to prevent them adhering together, but, if required, they may be caused to unite, preferably after application of the eifect materials, into one or more single larger filaments,

The Substances may be presented or applied to the filaments in an suitable way. Thus, the filaments may pass through a zone or chamber in which powders, particles, filaments, fibres, or other desired materials are caused to intercept the filaments, the powders or other materials being blown about or agitated in the zone or chamber, or allowed to fall across the path of the filaments.

The materials to be applied may be projected at the sticky filaments by means of a gaseous stream, the force of projection being high enough, if necessary, to force the materials into the substanceof the filaments.

When the projection method of application is employed, it is sometimes necessary to avoid premature setting of the filaments by the evaporative power of the gas used, it being essential, of course, for the filaments to be maintained sticky. For this purpose, the projecting gas may consist of or contain vapours of the solvent used in the spinning solution, or of other solvents for the substance of the filaments. For example, in the application of materials by this method to filaments of cellulose acetate, air containing the vapour of acetone or other solvent for cellulose acetate or the vapour itself of such solvents may be used for spraying or projecting the materials. I

Alternatively, or in addition, when the treat ment is carried out during production and before the filaments are set, an atmosphere of solvent vapours may be maintained round the filaments in a zone or chamber of the spinning cell, so as to prolong the plastic or sticky state of the filaments and facilitate the adhesion of the materials, which may be applied in this zone or chamber or otherwise.

One form of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that this description is given by way of example only and is in no respect limitative.

A spinning cabinet 2 is fitted with supply pipe 3, filter 4, and a spinning jet 5 from which spinning solution, supplied filter 3 is extruded in the form of filaments 6. Surrounding the filaments in the neighbourhood of the jet is a cylinder 1, which restricts the evaporation of the solvent in the filaments and causes them to remain sticky until they have passed out of the cylinder. Through one side of the spinning cabinet 2 is passed an air jet 8 sup plied with a current of air through the pipe 9. The jet 8 is so disposed as to direct the air blast across the path of the filaments 6.

Into the air is fed a uniform constant supply of powders, short filaments, or other materials Hi, from a hopper H, by means of a feeding device l2, and a pipe l3. This material is caused to be suspended in the blast of air, with the assistance of a helical vane I4, which renders the air turbulent. The materials suspended in the air. may consist of metallic powders, pigmentary powders, short hairs or fibres, finely divided liquids containing in solution or suspension pigments or other effect materials, phosphorescent the required degree of above the jet by means through the pipe 2 and powders, or any other desirable substances. The blast of air from the nozzle 8 passes through an aperture i 5 in the side of the cylinder 1 and crosses the path of the filaments 6, so that the materials carried in the air are absorbed by or adhere to the filaments. The air supplied by the pipe 9 may conveniently be laden with the vapours of the solvent contained in the filaments, so that the evaporation of the solvent from the filaments may be further delayed, and their stickiness may be assisted. The air is prevented from entering the upper part of the cylinder of a diaphragm l6.

The side of the cylinder 1, opposite to the jet 8 is cut away, and behind the opening is placed a funnel ll, through which the air, together with excess materials suspended in it are drawn off by suction. The air drawn oif by the funnel ll consists not only of the air supplied by the jet 8, but also air drawn up from the bottom of the cell, for the purpose of evaporating the solvent in the filaments after they have. left the cylinder 7. The air is drawn oil by a pipe l8 to a bag IQ of linen, or other material; contained in a chamber 20. The gaseous material passes through the bag [9, and out of the chamber by a pipe 2| which leads it to an apparatus for the recovery of the solvent vapours present. The solid material is retained by the bag 26, which is attachedto an extension of the pipe i8 b means of a spring clip 23,- so that it can easily be removed and emptied of its contents. The filaments with the materials adhering to them pass down the cabinet, where the solvent evaporates, leaving the materials firmly incorporated in the filaments. The'filaments may be collected in the usual manner, inside or outside the cell.

It is convenient that the cylinder 1 should be fitted on to the filter 4, and should be adapted to slide up the filter when necessary, in order to render the jet 5 readily accessible for attention.

Means similar in principle to those described above may be used for applying materials to the filaments after the filaments have been treated with a solvent or softening agent, and such means may be adapted to operate upon the filaments continuously with their production or otherwise. Thus, for example, in the course of spinning filaments by the dry or evaporative method, the filaments after leaving an evaporative atmosphere, and when they are in a substantially set condition, may be passed over a wick fed with acetone, or any other solvent or softening agent, to bring the substance of the filaments again to a sticky condition. The filaments are then passed through a chamber across which a blast of air is blown. The air blast carries materials of the kind already enumerated, and the materials are thereby caused to adhere to or be absorbed by the filaments in a manner similar to that already described.

In a like manner, finished filaments may be treated, in the course, for example, of a bobbin to bobbin winding or winding and twisting operation.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Process for the production of artificial filaments showing eifects, comprising extruding a spinning solution in the form of filaments, and applying solid efiect materials to the filaments continuously with their extrusion, and while the filaments still contain such an amount of solvent material as to be in a sticky condition, which materials adhere to the surface of the filaments.

2. Process for the production of artificial filaments showing effects, comprising extruding a spinning solution in the form of filaments, and applying solid phosphorescent material to the filaments continuously with their extrusion, and. while the filaments still contain such an amount of solvent material as to be in a sticky condition, which materials adhere to the surface of the filaments.

3. Process for the production of artificial filaments showing effects, comprising extruding a spinning solution in the form of artificial filaments, and directing upon such filaments continuously with their extrusion, and while the filaments still contain such an amount of solvent material as to bein a sticky condition, a gaseous stream carrying solid effect materials which adhere to the surface of the filaments.

4. Process for the production of artificial filaments showing effects, comprising extruding a spinning solution in the form of artificial filaments, and directing upon such filaments continuously with their extrusion, and while the filaments still contain such an amount of solvent material as to be in a sticky condition, a gaseous stream carrying solid phosphorescent material which adhere to the surface of the filaments.

5. Process for the production of artificial filaments showing effects, comprising extruding a spinning solution in the form of artificial filaments, and directing upon such filaments continuously with their extrusion, a gaseous stream carrying solvent for the material of the filaments, and solid effect materials which adhere to the surface of the filaments.

6. Process for the production of artificial filaments showing effects, comprising applying short fibres of filamentary materials to artificial filaments, while the substance itself of the filaments is in a sticky condition, which materials adhere to the surface of the filaments.

'1. Apparatus for the production of articial filaments showing effects, comprising means for extruding artificial filaments by the evaporative method, means for restricting the evaporation of solvent materials from said filaments immediately after extrusion, means for directing a gaseous stream across the path of the filaments while the substance of the filaments is in asticky condition, and means for loading said gaseous stream with solid efiect materials which adhere to the surface of the filaments.

8. Apparatus for the production of artificial filaments showing efiects, comprising means for extruding artificial filaments by the evaporative method, means for applying solvent material to the filaments to bring them into a sticky condition, means for directing a gaseous stream across the path of the filaments while the substance of the filaments is in a sticky condition, and means for loading said gaseous stream with solid effect. materials which adhere to the surface of the filaments.

9. Artificial filaments having short lengths of filamentary materials adhering to the substance of the filaments on the surface thereof.

WIILIAM IVAN TAYLOR. 

